Merry Christmas Feliz Navidad

St. Ignatius Loyola Parish December 21 ,2014

We Pray For Our Dead And We Mourn With You

MASS INTENTIONS

MONDAY December 22, 2014 ` 7:00AM Mary and Dominic Sanzoverina 9:00AM John, Jean, Dolores Pirozzi and Family TUESDAY December 23, 2014, St. John of Kanty 7:00AM Mary and Charles Grossane 9:00AM Louis Smith WEDNESDAY December 24, 2014 7:00AM No Mass 9:00AM Pasco Pratico 5:00 PM Priest Intentions in Church 5:00PM Priest Intentions in Auditorium 7:30PM Mass in Spanish 12:Midnight Parishioners of St. Ignatius Loyola THURSDAY Dec. 25, 2014, Nativity of the Lord 7:30AM Christmas Novena 9:30AM Christmas Novena 11:00AM Christmas Novena 12:30PM Christmas Novena 2:30PM Mass in Spanish (Church) FRIDAY December 26, 2014, St. Stephen 7:00AM No Mass 9:00AM Christmas Novena SATURDAY December 27, 2014, St. John, Apostle 9:00AM Christmas Novena 5:00PM Eleanor and Chester Mazurowski SUNDAY Dec. 28, 2014, The Holy Family 7:30AM Irene Rapp 9:30 AM Christmas Novena 11:00AM Richard Budinich 12:30PM Anthony John D’Costa Carole Taylor Kenneth McCaffrey Intentions of Ivan D’Mello 5:15PM Louis Parmigiani, Sr. 7:00 PM Crispin Ramirez

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Sunday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16Rom 16:25-27 Lk 1:26-38 Monday: 1 Sm 1:24-28 Lk 1:46-56 Tuesday: Mal 3:1-4,23-24 Lk 1:57-66 Wednesday:2 Sm 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16 Lk 1:67-79 Thursday: Vigil: Is 62-1-5 Ps 89:4-5,16-17,27-29 Acts 13:16-17,22-25 Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25 Night: Is 9:1-6 Ps 96:1-3,11-13 Ti 2:11-14 Lk 2:1-14 Day: Is 52-7-10 Ps 98:1-6 Heb 1:1-6 Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5,9-14 Friday: Acts 6-8-10;7:54-59 Ps 31:3cd-4,6,8ab, 16bc-17 Mt 10:17-22 Saturday: 1 Jn 1:1-4 Jn 20:1a, 2-8

Mark Stapleton, Cecilia McLaughlin, John & Mary D’Antonio, Gloria Lane, CPL. Garrett Carnes, USMC, Anna Palewski, Philip Zederbaum, Michael Maher, Patrick McGee, Dawn Levchenko, Harry Mulligan, John Lupski, Raymond Morris, Maria Estupinan,, Theresa Locke, Maureen Rem-sky, Joanne Wallick, Margaret Kropac, Brian Crowley, Newborn Luke Major, Mary Burdo, William Lee and Ernest Calza, Pedro Dobladillo, Infant Gabrielle Hailey Scannella, William Horbs, Rose Marie Heitschusen, Angelique Cadarr, Phil-lip R. Sanita, Clare McCarthy, Jr., Justin David Wall, Sara Olsson, Dan Creamer, Helen Mackreth, Lisa Butler-Goss, Anthony Joseph Giampaolo Pearl Bolcavage, Dr.Frank Gazda, Howard King, Thomas Duffy, Sandra Reinhardt, Jackie Castinella

Rectory Hours during Christmas week:

Christmas Eve, Wed. December 24th Close at 1PM Front Office will remain open until 3PM

Christmas Day, Thursday December 25thClosed

We would like to wish our parishioners a very Merry Christmas and may your heart be filled with all the peace and joy only His love can bring.

Judith Proffe John Anthony Romanelli, III

Casimir E. Zwolinski

St Ignatius Loyola Parish December 21, 2014

SACRIFICIAL GIVING

Sunday, Dec.14,2014 $13,678 Maintenance $ 4,007 Sunday Dec. 15, 2013 $13,609

The Bread and Wine this week

Are in Loving Memory Of

Christine Rigert From

The Rigert Family

Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Theme: Families grow through good times and bad. Breaking Open the Word Suggested text for faith sharing: Second Reading from St. Paul Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19

Brothers and sisters: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith he re-ceived power to generate, even though he was past the normal age —and Sarah herself was sterile—for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the sea-shore. By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.” He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he re-ceived Isaac back as a symbol.

Step One: Listen to the Word As you hear St. Paul give advice to the people, what words or phrases strike you? What do you like in this reading? What don’t you like? Step Two: Look into Your Life Question for Children: Why is it important for you to obey your parents or guardians? Question for Youth: God chose to be among us in the person of Jesus. How does having a God who knows what it means to be human affect the way you pray or think about God?

Question for Adults: Whether single, married, or divorced, how does Paul’s advice ring true in your own life? Choose one of his suggestions and share how it touches your life.

The Candles this week are in Loving Memory

Of Charles and Elizabeth Lang

From Children and Grandchildren

Today is Hospitality Sunday

After the 9:30 AM Family Mass, ALL are invited over to the Old School Downstairs in Rooms E&F for Hospitality. Join us for coffee, tea, juice and assorted goodies! We hope you can join us!

This Christmas I would like to share with you a special story based on an article in the Washington Times written Dec. 22, 2011 by Martha M. Boltz. We all know the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882). One thing we do not know is how he faced great tragedy in his life. One such instance came when his wife Fanny died from fire burns after melting a bar of sealing wax to save some of the long curls from her daughter’s newly cut hair. In trying to save her, Longfellow threw a small rug over her but to no avail. Then he put his arms around her and sustained serious burns on his face, arms and hands. Even though he tried to save her, she died the next morning of her injuries. He could not even attend the funeral because he was so distraught with grief. Photo-graphs of Longfellow taken or made after the fire usually show him with a full beard, since he was no longer able to shave properly due to the burns and scarring. The coming of the Christmas season in the Longfellow house became a time of grieving for his wife while trying to provide a happy time for the children left at home. It was during Christ-mas 1862 that he wrote in his journal, “A ‘Merry Christmas’ say the children, but that is no more for me.” During the Civil War, he had also suffered another disappointment when his oldest son, Charles Appleton “Charley” Longfellow, quietly left their Cambridge, Mass. home, and enlisted in the Union Army much against the wishes of his father. It was only a few months later that Charley came down with typhoid fever and malaria and was sent home to recover, not rejoining his unit until August 15, 1863. Following the Gettysburg battle, which Charley had fortunately missed, the conflict made its way into Virginia, and it was at the Battle of New Hope Church, in Orange, VA., part of the Mine Run Campaign, that the young Lt. Longfellow sustained injuries, which seriously dis-abled him. He was hit in the shoulder and the ricocheting bullet took out some portions of several vertebrae. It was reported that he missed being paralyzed by less than one inch. Longfellow traveled to where his injured son was hos-pitalized and brought him home to Cambridge to recover. The war for Charley was over. And so at Christmas of 1864, a reflective and sad poet sat down and began to write the beautiful words that we sing each Christmas: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head: “There is no peace on earth,” I said, “For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men.” Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Christmas is a time to remind us that despite the challenges, the tragedies, wars, sickness and deaths we

face in life, God is still with us. God in and through Jesus Christ is there to help us in every way because he know what it means to be human. When we open ourselves to God like Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds, the gift of the Christ child is present in our lives. The only thing we need is like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the gift of faith.

On behalf of all of our staff, our Sisters of St. Dominic and the priests of St. Ignatius Loyola, I wish you and your families and friends a Blessed and very Merry Christmas. May you find the peace, solace and love of the Christ who came at Christmas, at the center of your hearts. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your fami-lies. May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!

YÜA ]|Å Pastor

4th Sunday of Advent Christmas Day Lk 1:26-38 Lk 2:1-14

COMMUNITY NEWS

St Ignatius Loyola Parish December 21, 2014

Help Fight Poverty in America Give to Catholic Campaign for Human Development

Collection will be weekend of December 27th and 28th

Next week, we will take up the Collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development which includes Home Missions (CCHD). CCHD was founded 40 years ago by the bishops of the United States when they realized that the lives of those in need would not improve until the systems and policies that keep people in poverty were changed. For 40 years, CCHD has funded community groups that seek justice and create lasting change. Fight poverty in America. Defend human dignity. Give to the CCHD Collection. La próxima semana realizaremos la Colecta para la Campaña Católica para el Desarrollo Humano los cuales incluyen las Misiones Locales (CCHD, por sus siglas en inglés). Los obispos de los Esta-dos Unidos fundaron CCHD hace 40 años cuando se dieron cuenta que la vida de los más necesita-dos no iba a mejorar hasta que no se cambiasen los sistemas y las políticas que mantienen a las per-sonas en la pobreza. La CCHD, a lo largo de 40 años, ha financiado a grupos comunitarios que bus-can justicia y producen cambios duraderos. Luche contra la pobreza en América. Defienda la digni-dad humana. Contribuya a la Colecta de la CCHD

Bus Trip to the Sands Casino, Bethlehem, PA

Hosted by St. Ignatius Loyola Church

When: Wednesday, January 28, 2015 Cost: $42 per person includes driver’s tip Give back: $30 slot play & $5 food voucher Time: Bus leaves at 9 am sharp. Please arrive at 8:30 am Return approx. 8:30 pm Place: Will meet at Cantiague Park, West John Street, Hicksville. Reservations: Please call Barbara at (516) 935-5576 **The first to pay is the first on the bus, etc.**

Christmas Novena Mass Cards

Saint Ignatius Loyola Parish is pleased to announce for the first time, a Limited Edi-tion Christmas Novena Mass Card for the upcoming Christmas season of December 25th to January 2nd. Honor your loved ones, both living and deceased, with the parish’s prayers during this time. Limited Quantities of the card are available in the rectory (first come, first served). Multiple intentions may be listed on the offertory en-velope if a card is not needed for each per-son prayed for. There is a free will offering per Mass intention, however, the sug-gested minimum donation is $5.00 per in-tention. Based upon the response from pa-rishioners this year, we may increase our quantity for Christmas, 2015.

COMMUNITY NEWS

St Ignatius Loyola Parish December 21, 2014

This week at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish Facilities– e-mail parishfacilities.us Sunday, December 21st Youth Group Fund, Speaks at all Masses Youth Group-Rosary Sales-After all Masses 9:30am Family Mass-Church 10:30am Family Life Hospitality-Old School Café. And Rooms E & F 3:45 pm. Lessons and Carols in Church 5:00pm Choir-Spanish-Old School Room D 5:30pm Baptism Classes-Spanish-Old School Room B Monday, December 22nd 7:00pm SCJ Youth Group-Old School Art Room 7:00pm Hispanic Dance-Room D 7:00pm Charismatic Group-Old School Room A 7:30pm St. Ann’s Mothers Prayer Group-Room B Tuesday, December 23rd 9:30am Scripture Meeting-Room B, Old School 7:00pm Choir-Spanish, Old School, Room D Wednesday, December 24th Christmas Eve No Activities Thursday, December 25th Christmas Day No Activities Friday, December 26th No Activities Saturday, December 27th 7:30am Men’s Prayer Group-Patriotic Rosary-Church 8:30am ESL-Human Services-Basement

PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY

Anyone with a family member serving in the military, please forward their name and rank to our bulletin editor at bulletin1859@aol.com or bring the name to our Rec-tory Front Office. We pray to give all of our soldiers the courage and strength to do the duty that is required of them. May they always remember our appreciation for the sacrifice they are making for us. We are thankful for the men and women who are willing to risk their lives to protect our freedom. I ask You to go with each of them and protect them wherever they go. Amen.

Sgt First Class. Matthew Loheide SSgt. Kevin J. Hennelly Lt. Jonathan W. Lang Lt. Jeanine A. Lang

SPC Justin T. Sikorski Sgt. Mathew Burrafato DCC James Pennington

Col. Paul J. Laughlin Captain. Patrick O. Kelly, USMC

Sgt. Thomas P. McLoughlin, USMC Atan Lisa Olynk, USN

M Sgt. Michael Marascia Sgt. Stephen L. Emlaw

P.O.Third Class E-4 Kyle A. Kamermayer, Navy Major Edward A. McGoldrick, US Army

Steven Orbon, 1st Lt., U.S. Army Lt. David Jacobs

Pvt. Thomas Wright Airman Peter F. Clark, USAF

Capt. Joseph Whittaker, USMC LCPL Michael J. Mc Ilwrath, USMC

1st Lt. James Michael Vaz, U.S. Army Louis Bombardiere, USMC

Gunnery Sgt. Brian Moran, USMC Second Lt. Bridget Flatley, USAF

Cpt. Richard Macchio Pvt. Joseph Gergely, U.S.M.C.

LTJG Alie Disher, U.S.N. LTJG John Patrick Orr, USN, C.E.C.

PVC Andrew Hughes Airman Denis C. Clark, USAF

Sgt. Lotachukwu Okoye 1st Lt. Brian W. Way, USMC

PFC. Christopher Paradiso, U.S.M. PFC Jim Arbelaez, US Marine

Sgt. Dustin Lusby LTJG Christopher Medford, US Navy

Lt. Lindsay Conte, USN Sgt. Matthew Mercurio

Sgt. Phillip Michael Yopp, U.S. Army

Imagine how Mary felt at the birth of Jesus: ex-cited, awed, frightened. Deep faith was her light in the darkness, for Jesus was born during the night of the year when darkness is the longest. In faith is found the real, lasting and deep joy of Christmas

PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY

COMUNIDAD HISPANA 12/14/14 III DOMINGO DE ADVIENTO Editado por Ytala y Gabriel

Boletín: 33

Decimos que la Navidad es una “época de alegría” y un “momento de gozo”. Pero, ¿no experimentas a veces cosas muy lejos de alegría y gozo? ¿Te encuentras hundido y tus días llenos de cosas por hacer? ¿Estas cansado después de un largo año y los numerosos problemas y dificultades que aparecen en tu camino?¿Te parece que la Navidad es una presión más y una demanda más de tu tiempo

Deténte por un minuto. Es posible que pienses que no tienes tiempo para detenerte, pero debieras hacerlo.

Mientras menos estresado y presionado estés, más felicidad y alegría lle-nará los momentos que tu y tus amados tendrán juntos.

La Navidad se goza mejor cuando no está centrada en las decoraciones, regalos, o festividades, sino cuando el amor es el centro. El amor es la esencia de la Navidad. La Navidad debiera significar ocupar tiempo precioso con tu familia y amigos. Tiene que ver con acariciar y celebrar el amor que compartes. Tristemente, el amor puede perderse antre el movimiento y el bullicio. A veces está tapado por las decoraciones y regalos, las compras sin fin, y la cena de Navidad y su contenido. COMPARTE TU AMOR EN NAVIDAD!

GANA PUNTOS CON DIOS! INVITA A LA

MISA OTRA PERSONA LOS DOMINGOS

Y PRIMEROS VIERNES A LAS 7:00 PM.

BAUTIZOS CLASES: Las 5:30 PM. Segundo y Tercer Domingo de cada mes, en el sótano de la escuela. Padrinos, madrinas, papás y mamás deben asistir, y quedarse en la misa de las 7 PM. No es necesario hacer una cita para registrarse, pues en la clase lo hacen. No olvides traer el registro de nacimiento del niño. LOS BAUTIZOS SON LOS ÚLTIMOS SÁBADOS DEL MES, A LA 1:00 PM. Diciembre 27, Enero 24, Febrero 22, Marzo 28, Abril 25, Mayo 30, 2015. Comunícate con RO-SA y ROBERTO ROMERO: 516-749-4693 / 516-749-5135. Muchas Gracias por venir a las CLASES Y A LA MISA.

NO TE PIERDAS: Nuestro grupo de oración los Viernes a

las 6:30 pm. en la escuela nueva. Información: Rosio Rivera.

Clases de Inglés: en el sótano de Servicios Humanos. Los sábados de 9 a 11 am. Información: Liz Muñoz.

El Coro de los niños, ensayo los martes a las 7:30 pm. en la Iglesia, Información: Leyni - Tony Escobar

Reunión de jóvenes de 14-18 años en segundo piso de la escuela antigua. Los viernes de 7 a 9 pm. Info: Líderes.

Reunión de jóvenes de 11-13 años en el sótano de la escuela antigua, Viernes de 7 a 9 pm. Información: Thom.

Catequesis de Adultos: Los cuartos domingos del mes. De 4:30 pm. hasta la Misa. Información: Catequistas.

SERVIENDO A DIOS! Pastor: Rev. James T. Stachacz Pastor Asociado: Rev. Saúl Londoño Coordinación: Mario Gómez y Erika A. Catequesis: Colleen Tuzzolo (Educación Religiosa Niños 516 935 6873) Mario Gómez José Contreras, Karina del Mar, Delfina Hernández Rosa-José Romero, Julieta McLaughlin (Educación Religiosa Adultos) Clases Bautizos: Roberto y Rosa Romero Clases Inglés: Lissette Muñoz, Gloria V. Josué Flores, Kerry Engrert, Ingrid Aguilar. Comité Festejos: Lorena Medrano, Erika y Jaime Aldana, Maribel Adames, Luis Reyes, Tesla Calderón, Ana Berrios, Rosa Molina, Cistina Díaz, Álvaro Meléndez. Comunicaciones: Ytala y Gabriel Ruiz, Maria Romero Divina Misericordia: Delfina Hernández, Asunción Rivera . Ensayos Bodas , Celebraciones de 15-16 años: Lorena Medrano, Leny Esc.obar. Grupo de Oración: Rosio Rivera, Rosa Gutiérrez y Servidores. Hospitalidad y Colectas: Marta Romero, Luis Reyes, Guadalupe Aguilar. Jardín Hispano: Fidel Zabala - Guadalupe Lectura Misas de los Niños (as): Viviana Echeverry y Dina Tenas. Liturgia Dominical Niños: Carmen y Daniela Gómez, Elva Cordone, Cindy Medrano, Verónica Saquicela. Ministerio de la Palabra: Jaime Aldana Ministerio de los Enfermos: Rosio Rivera, Romy Taveras, Rosa Gutierrez. Ministerio Sagrado Corazón de Jesús: Karina del Mar y Jovana Arteaga. Ministerio de Música, Coro de los Niños y Danzas: Leiny y Antonio Escobar Ministros Ext. de la Comunión y Sacristía: Juan Hernández, Rosío Rivera. Monaguillos (Servidores del Altar) Carmen Zelaya, Viviana Echeverry Movimiento Familiar Cristiano Católico: Roberto y Rosa Romero. Pastoral Juvenil: Carlos Campos, Ytala y Gabriel Ruiz, Lissette Muñoz, Carla Duran, Samuel Sánchez, Katie Crayne, Eliséo Meléndez., Francesca, Isabel & Diego. Pre-Cana: Mario y Dora Gómez Seguridad: Orlando Cruz, Diego Echeverry Bienvenida hermanos de otros Continentes: Oscar Hernández y Miguel Muñoz.

DIOS TE CONCEDA MUCHAS

BENDICIONES Y GRACIAS EN ESTE

NUEVO AÑO.

24 de Diciembre Misa 7:00 pm.

25 de Diciembre Misa 2:00 pm. Te Esperamos!

New Year’s Eve Party Where: Joseph Barry Knights of Columbus 45 Heitz Place, Hicksville When: Wednesday, December 31, 2014 Time 8pm to 1am Cost: $35 per person -$70 per couple. Please make checks payable to Joseph Barry Knights of Columbus Music: Brennan and the Mor—Music with American spirit and Irish pride There will be an Open Bar, Dinner and Dessert with Coffee. Bring your own noisemakers and snacks. Casual attire. Reservations required. There will be no money accepted at the door. Any questions, call Brian (516) 457-6190.

Chess Club

You are invited to join Mr. Toner and the Chess Club in the New School Cafeteria for friendly games Sun., December 28th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 .m All ages and all levels of players, from beginners to advanced, are encouraged to come down and play. Chess sets will be provided or you can bring your own set if you have one. For more information, call the Rectory at 931-0056.

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE, 2014

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Monday, December 22 - 9:30-10:30 a.m. 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

CHRISTMAS MASSES

Christmas Eve Wednesday, December 24 Mass in Church 5:00 p.m.

Mass in Msgr. Tarrant Auditorium 5:00 p.m. Mass in Spanish in Church 7:30 p.m.

Mass in Church 12:00 Midnight

Christmas Day Thursday, December 25 All Masses in Church

7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 noon NO 5:15 p.m. MASS – NO EVENING MASS

2:30 p.m. Mass in Spanish (Church)

NEW YEAR’S SCHEDULE

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Saturday, December 27 – 4:00pm to 5:00pm

New Year’s Eve Mass Wednesday, December 31 - 5:00 p.m,

New Year’s Day Masses

Thursday, January 1-Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Holy Day of Obligation

7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., & 12:30 p.m.

NO EVENING MASS IN ENGLISH

7:00 p.m. in Spanish ALL MASSES ARE IN THE CHURCH

YOUR FIRST CHRISTMAS CARD IN 2014 MERRY CHRISTMAS

‘Twas two months before Christmas When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

Why the PC Police had taken away The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say December 25th is just a 'Holiday'.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa

In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down At Lowe's the word Christmas - was nowhere to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears

You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-is-ty Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen

On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'

Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday !

Please, all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas 2014

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: This past year I found myself twice in the Holy Land, first in my role as a member of the Board of Catho-lic Near East Welfare and second as part of a Pilgrimage of Prayer for Peace by eighteen United States bishops. Both visits brought home to me in a vivid way what all of us see and hear in the media: the land made holy by the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior is anything but a land of peace, joy and fraternal love. If we were to stop there it would be very difficult to be hopeful. Yet we know that the Feast we celebrate on December 25th is the very reason why the worrisome facts of today’s world are not the end of the story. They are the context into which the Lord enters in order to re-verse the spiral of violence and death and to found a new order, “the new heaven and the new earth” that are the fruit of the Son of God Who came into the world to reveal God’s plan of salvation. He is the true history of humanity because He alone is the Word through whom the world and human life are created. And that Word, the eternal Son of the Father, becomes flesh so that we might be saved from all the darknesses that lie hidden in human hearts. He is the true light that dispels the darkness. He is the one sure hope of the world. And He comes to become part of the human condition so that He and He alone can reverse the destiny of humankind by giving us a new destiny, life in Him, life in the Spirit which is the gift of God’s love . This Christmas I greet you all in the light of that love that came into the world that first Christmas in a Bethlehem stable. This Christmas I invite you all to join with me in a pilgrimage of the heart to that very place where Mary brought forth Jesus into a world that so needs the gift of divine life that He is and so yearns for the peace that only He can give. My prayer for each of you and all of you is that we might let Him transform any of the darknesses that control our lives and endow us with the newness of life that His birth has made possible. May the light of His life shine on us all, without exception. May the example of Mary and Joseph be the model for all our families. And may we be found with the shepherds adoring the Prince of Peace while angels sing and all the world rejoice for Unto us a Son is given, unto us a child is born and He is Savior, Mighty God, Prince of Peace. Faithfully yours in Christ,

Bishop of Rockville Centre

Navidad 2014

Queridos Hermanos y Hermanas en Cristo, Durante este año me he encontrado dos veces en Tierra Santa. La primera vez como miembro de la junta Católica del Cercano Oriente y Bienestar y la segunda vez como parte de los 18 Obispos de los Estados Unidos en una Pere-grinación de Oración por la paz. Ambas visitas han centrado en mí de manera viva lo que todos nosotros vemos y oímos a través de los medios de comunicación: la tierra santificada por el nacimiento, vida, muerte y resurrección de nuestro Señor y Salvador es cualquier cosa menos tierra de paz, gozo y caridad fraternal. Si tuviéramos que detenernos ahí sería muy difícil poder mantener la esperanza. Sin embargo, sabemos que la fiesta que celebramos el 25 de diciembre es la razón por lo que los hechos preocu-pantes del mundo de hoy no son el final de la historia. Ellos son el contexto en el que el Señor entra a fin de rever-tir el espiral de violencia y muerte y fundar un nuevo orden, “cielos nuevos y tierra nueva” que son el fruto del Hijo de Dios que vino al mundo para revelar el plan de salvación de Dios. Él es la verdadera historia de la humanidad, porque solo Él es la Palabra a través de los cuales se crean el mundo y la vida humana. Y esa Palabra, el Hijo eterno del Padre, se hace carne para que podamos ser salvador de las tinie-blas que se esconden en los corazones humanos. Él es la luz verdadera que disipa la oscuridad. Él es la única es-peranza segura del mundo. Y Él viene a ser parte de la condición humana, pues Él y solo Él puede revertir el desti-no de la humanidad, dándonos un nuevo destino, la vida en Él, la vida en el Espíritu, que es el don del amor de Dios. Esta Navidad saludo a todos a la luz de ese amor que vino al mundo la primera Navidad en un establo de Belén. Esta Navidad les invito a todos a unirse conmigo en una peregrinación del corazón a ese mismo lugar donde María dio a luz a Jesús a un mundo que tanto necesita el regalo de la vida divina que Él es y que añora por la paz que solo Él puede dar. Mi oración por cada uno de ustedes y por todos ustedes es que podamos dejar que Él transforme cualquiera de las tinieblas que controlan nuestras vidas y nos dote con la novedad de vida que su nacimiento ha hecho posible. Que la Luz de su vida brille sobre todos nosotros, sin excepción. Que el ejemplo de María y José sea el modelo para todas nuestras familias. Y que nos encuentre con los pastores adorando al Príncipe de la Paz, mientras los ángeles cantan y el mundo entero se regocija pues A nosotros se nos ha dado un Hijo, a nosotros nace un niño y es el Sal-vador, Dios Omnipotente, Príncipe de Paz. Fielmente suyos en Cristo,

Obispo de Rockville Centre

PASTORAL COUNCIL Fr. James T. Stachacz, Pastor

Elizabeth Fitzgibbon Bruce Wimbiscus Jaime Aldana Joe Malerba John Crayne Kieran Sullivan Kevin Stoltz

“The Council serves as a forum of consultation for the pastor and members, primarily by engaging them in ongoing dialogue about the needs, feelings, hopes and reactions of parishioners.” Guidelines for Pastoral Councils #B-2 Please feel free to contact any council member at any time re-garding your needs, feelings, hopes and reactions. All council members can be reached through the rectory office.